NEUROTENSIN-LIKE IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN ODONTOBLASTS AND THEIR PROCESSESIN RAT MAXILLARY MOLAR TEETH AND THE EFFECT OF PULPOTOMY

A strong neurotensin-like immunoreactivity (NT-like IR) was detected i n the odontoblast cells of the rat teeth. 4 h after a partial pulpotom y performed in two maxillary molar teeth a decreased NT-like IR was ob served in the odontoblast layer located at the vicinity of the lesion together with edema and nuclear pyknosis. NT-like IR became further de creased after 24 h. After 7 days NT-like IR had almost fully disappear ed with signs of necrosis of the dental pulp and infiltration of polym orphonuclear lymphocytes. It seems possible that NT like peptides in t he odontoblast cell layer may play a role, e.g., in dentinogenesis and /or nociception.